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im heading to thailand in a few weeks for the 1st time on my own. Its low season so will i be ok meeting other travelers? I will stay in the khao san area when i arrive, can someone let me know some bars that is good for meeting others. thanks!!!

If you are over 25 years old and want to visit some go-go bars - visit the Sukhumvit Road area, not far from Nana Skytrain stop. I would tell you to use the Skytrain to get to Sukhumvit but there is NO Skytrain service in the Khao San Road (KSR) area! Lots of young, often school age, tourists though.UrbanRail.Net > Asia > Thailand > Bangkok Metro
(Skytrain connects with Suvarnabhumi Airport, Ekamai bus terminal, subway for Hualamphong, MBK, Patpong, Chatuchak, Sukhumvit, Pratunam and Siam area, etc. etc. But not KSR area!)

In any area of Bangkok you will meet other tourists in restaurants, bars, malls, when walking and gawking by yourself and on tours. In Bangkok and major cities you can sign on to tours through local travel agencies.

If you are planning on some long bus rides get your bus ticket at a real bus station and not through KSR travel agencies. Most of the complaints about theft, bad service and other problems have been buses booked in KSR area.

Meter taxis will be cheaper than tuk-tuks, also you can actually see something and they have A/C. Do not get in a meter taxi unless the driver agrees to use the meter. You bargain the cost and you pay more! Have small bills and coins for paying taxi drivers. Wave a moving taxi over and tell him to use the meter. If the driver wants to bargain the cost of the ride get another one of the many hundreds of taxis. I avoid parked meter taxis because they more often want to bargain the cost and you pay more.

It's been an age since I've hung out at Khao San (and I wouldn't go back for anything more than a fleeting visit!), but I recall on the corner nearest the Chana Songkram temple there is (was?) a place called Gullier's Tavern which had a tuk tuk above the doorway. That place always looked lively and had pool tables with Thai ladies (workers? ) clearing up against the backpackers. Was always a bit busy for my tastes - I prefer a quiet table, a pint and a book! - but if that's the kind of thing you're after, you'll find it there.

Alternatively, do what others do and buy a beer from a 7/11 and sit on the street and get chatting to others nearby!